Easing the Stress of Moving

This month marks the two-year point. In June 2015, we moved from Virginia to our current home in North Carolina. Since I married my husband in 1996, I’ve become intimate friends with the stress of moving. Two and a half years in one house is about our limit before we’re packing up and changing residences.

I can’t tell you how many times we started the school year by learning our address, or how many times I looked at whichever kid was in the ten-to-thirteen-year range and asking them if they knew our home phone number. Thank goodness for cell phones where your number doesn’t change with every move!

For the first time in my marriage, after two years in the same place, we are not facing the chore of packing up our entire house. No, instead we are watching our oldest pack up everything she owns to move out on her own. For awhile, she considered moving across the country from us.

Moving Changes Your Life

You can imagine the mess of emotions that was in this momma’s heart, but with all the moves she has under her belt, I knew she was fully capable of doing it. I saw the disengagement period beginning in her—that time when you know you are leaving so you begin to separate yourself from the friends and activities you’ve relied on or thrived in. She set her face to the west, preparing for the adventure in front of her.

It was a good thing, even though she ultimately chose to remain closer.

If you, like my daughter, are moving within the next six months or so, your life is about to change in many ways you can only begin to predict. To help you on your journey, here are my best tips for the weeks ahead, to ease the stress of moving.

4 Tips to Ease the Stress of Moving

1. REMEMBER: GOD IS IN CONTROL

Maybe you received orders from the military or those in charge of the company your husband works for. Perhaps after six months of searching, you only received one job offer. Or maybe you just can’t stand the thought of staying where you are one more day.

It doesn’t really matter.

God says in Isaiah 14:24, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.” Proverbs 16:9 echoes this:

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord established their steps.

No matter how much you acknowledge God in the process, He’s there. Even if you are angry at Him for making you move, working with Him, rather than fighting Him, will help make the entire process easier.

2. FIGHT FEAR. STEP FORWARD IN FAITH

Change can be scary, even change we are excited about! But remember that if God is in control and if He is directing your path, then the change in front of you is good!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Now, that doesn’t mean that everything that happens will be good. It also doesn’t mean that you won’t fight frustration or hit obstacles. But God has a good plan, and He’s watching over you closely. His purpose—His good purpose—will prevail.

3. TAKE TIME TO MOURN

It’s okay to acknowledge all that you are losing in the move. You will say goodbye to friends. You’ll watch favorite stores and restaurants fade away in your rearview mirror. And you’ll face the task of finding new friends. A new church. A new favorite place to eat.

It’s okay to take the time to mourn what you’ve lost, to miss your best friend from a duty station or two ago, to crave the best restaurant in your old town—just don’t get stuck there!

4. TAKE TIME TO LOOK AHEAD EXPECTANTLY

No one will ever replace that friend you left at your last installation. You may even lose contact with that person you thought would be in your life forever. But if you trust God and give this new location your best effort, you will find another person you don’t want to live without.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Just tackle the move one item at a time. ~Carrie Daws, from Beyond Warrior’s Bride: Moving

Moving is a huge task, one that can overwhelm even the most seasoned spouse used to packing out a house. But God is in the process, and He wants to love you and guide you through it.

And if you want to take a moment to pray for my girl, we’d appreciate that!

So, Tell Me . . .

I want to know what you think!

Did this post make you think a bit to make sure you’re on track with God? Write ‘Yes’ in the comments below.

Does this motivate you to make some changes in your life? Write ‘Changes Ahead!’ in the comments below.

Do you need to think about it some more or figure out what God wants you to do? Let me know you are ‘Still Thinking.’

Reading More

As many military spouses know, these simple words change your life. Whether you are moving just a couple of states over or around the world, a flurry of activity is about to consume your calendar. Where do you start? How do you begin to process all your emotions or prepare your children to say goodbye to their friends? How do you know if you need to host a yard sale or even what your weight limit is?

Take a deep breath and know that help is available. This book and the free moving checklist will get you started in the right direction.

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About Me

I am the author of encouraging nonfiction for military spouses and inspirational fiction. If you want to believe that God created you for more than you have or want to find freedom to fight life’s battles God’s way, then you are in the right place!